Enhancement of the antibody response in vitro by adherent cells from mice infected with Mycobacterium lepraemurium.

Spleen cells from mice systemically infected 4 to 6 weeks previously with Mycobacterium lepraemurium gave an enhanced primary antibody response in vitro to sheep erythrocytes, but responded normally to dinitrophenylated polyumerized flagellin. The ability to enhance the response was associated with the glass-adherent spleen cell population and with peritoneal cells. Similar cells obtained from infected mice depleted of T lymphocytes failed to enhance the antibody response. These studies suggest that macrophages that became activated during the development of cell-mediated immunity to infection can also stimulate antibody responses to thymus-dependent antigens.